Magnetic contactor with movable electromagnet



3,305,804 MAGNETIC GONTACTOR WITH MOVABLE ELECTROMAGNET Filed July 9, 1965 P. G. HUGHES Feb. 21, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 8 I0 5 H 7 M m w 3 w M 3 O u a (I 9 7 .1 N 4 5 R I1!IIIIMAH M a H G 8 5 v F v v M 7 W 7 I. 2 2 a w 5 M 8 0 0 m w B 7 M W INVENTOR. PH/L/P G Huey/5s BY 2M3; m

Feb. 21, 1967 HUGHES 3,305,804

MAGNETIC CONTACTOR WITH MOVABLE ELECTROMAGNET Filed July 9, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N VENTOR.

PH/L /P G Hum/es ,4 TTOR/VEV United States Patent Office 3,395,804 Patented Feb. 21, 1967 3,365,804 1. MAGNETIC CONTACTOR WliTH MOVABLE ELECTROMAGNET Philip G. Hughes, Bioomington, Ill., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Filed July 9, 1965, Ser.'N0. 470.831

13' Claims. (Cl. 335-448) This invention relates to magnetic contactors and has particular relation to magnetic conta'ctors for controlling comparatively small rated motor loads.

Magnetic contactors are widelyernployed to control motor loads of various ratings. Contactors which are utilized to control relatively small rated motors, such as motors used in air-conditioning and refrigerating equip ment, must necessarily be of compact and inexpensive design and yetmust exhibit reliable and long-life performa-nce.

-When a contactor is operated to close its contactsto permit energization of an associated motor load, a high inrush current to the motor initially traverses the closed contacts. If there is an appreciable period of contact bounce during the flow of inrush current, undesirable arcing may occur between the contacts which tends to materially reduce the contact life. It therefore is verydesirable that contactors have provision for minimizing contact bounce time. This problem is particularly troublesome with respect to contactors designed for use with relatively small rated motors inasmuch as due to the necessary small size and inexpensive design of such contactors they generally include small light weight contact moving mechanisms of low mass which contributes to an undesirably long contact bounce time.

When the contacts of the contactor are closed and current is supplied to the motor load, it is possible that the closed contacts will become welded together such that they cannot be separated in response to deenergization of the contactor coil. Failure of the contacts to separate when such is desired can have serious adverse affects and the contactor should therefore incorporate means for establishing a large contact opening force capable of separating the contacts in the event they have become welded together. The problem of providing adequate contact opening force is also particularly troublesome with respect to small rated contactors inasmuch as the bias springs provided therein tending to open the contacts are generally of such small size as to be incapable of developing the substantial forces necessary to break any welds that may have formed between the contacts.

Previous attempts to provide the above-described operating characteristics have not been entirely satisfactory primarily because such attempts have involved provision of costly multi-part auxiliary devices which in general have not been reliable and which have resulted in costly and bulky contactor constructions.

' It is, therefore, a primary object of the invention to provide a novel and improved magnetic contactor of inexpensive and compact design which exhibits reliable and long-life performance.

It is another object of the invention to provide a compact and inexpensive magnetic contactor designed primarily for use with small rated motor loads with improved and reliable means for separating welded contacts in response to deenergization of the contactor.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a magnetic contactor of compact and inexpensive design intended primarily for the control of small rated motor loads with improved means for minimizing contact bounce time.

It isa still further object of the invention to provide a magnetic contactor of very small size including a minimum number of inexpensive parts compactly arranged in an insulating housing of one piece construction.

In carrying out the invention in one form, a magnetic contactor is provided for controlling motor loads and is designed primarily for controlling motor loads of relatively small rating such as those employed in air-conditioning and refrigerating equipment. The contactor of the present invention is particularly suited for controlling motors having full load current ratings of the order of eighteen amperes for example. The improved contactor includes a one piece insulating housing which supports all the operating parts thereof. These parts include a magnetic system having two relatively movable magnetic sections with the movable magnetic section 'having'a greater mass than the fixed magnetic section and being operatively connected to the movable contact means. The movable magnetic section preferably comprises an electromagnet including a magnetic core and a coil on the core. The

. fixed magnetic section is preferably in the form of a flat magnetic plate or armature. The electromagnet is preferably mounted for pivotal movement-relative to the armature and to the housing and carries a bracket operatively connected to an actuator for reciprocating the actuator to deflect leaf spring means which supports the movable contact means. The leaf spring means is disconnected from the actuator and is normally biased to a position wherein it engages a surface of the actuator and positions the movable contact means in spaced relation with the fixed contact means. The leaf spring means carries a lever which is connected to theactuator to provide a contact opening force in addition to that afforded by the resilience of the leaf spring means in response to contact opening movement of the actuator.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a view in perspective of a magnetic contactor constructed in accord with the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a view in rear elevation of the contactor of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a view in section taken along the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2 and showing the fixed and movable contacts in open position;

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 with parts removed and with parts broken away showing the fixed and movable contacts in closed position; and

FIGURE 5 is an exploded view showing in perspective various parts of the contactor of FIGURES 1-4.

Referring now to the drawing there is illustrated in FIG. 1 a magnetic contactor represented generally by the numeral 10 constructed in accord with the invention. The contactor 10 includes an insulating housing formed of one piece as by molding and supporting all the parts of the contactor. extending from the rear thereof toward the front wall which is formed with a plurality of parallel slots 14 defined and spaced by a plurality of barriers 16. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 three slots 14 are provided to permit-provision of a three-pole contactor. The plurality of barrier 16 comprises two end barriers and two center barriers which serve to isolate the slots from one another.

Mounted within the slots 14 are the line and load terminal assemblies and the fixed and movable contact assemblies of the contactor. These assemblies include a plunality of electroeonductive fixed contact carriers 17 in the form of plate members mounted in any suitable manner within the slots 14 at the upper ends thereof as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 3. The carriers 17 are preferably secured to the housing by eyelets 18 swaged from their bases and. projecting through openings in the housing with their ends spun over. The eyelets are internally threaded to receive terminal screws 19 to which electric conductors (not shown) such as line conductors are secured. The

The housing 11 includes a deep cavity 13' carriers 17 support fixed contact tips 20- adjacent their free ends and at the under sides thereof as viewed in FIG. 1.

Cooperating with the fixed contacts 20 are a like number of movable contacts each supportedwithin a separate one of the slots 14 for movement relative to its associated fixed contact. To support the movable contacts a plurality of ,elect-roconductive support plates 22 are secured to the housing preferably by eyelets 24 which carry terminal screws 23. The plates 22 reside within the slots 14 at the lower ends thereof with the free ends of the supports 22 adjacent to and spaced from the free ends of the supports 17. Conductors (not shown) such as load conductors are secured to the screws 23. A resilient mounting of the movable contacts is provided and in the illustrated embodiment of the invention the resilient mounting is afforded by a plurality of elongated electroconductive leaf springs 25 to which movable contacttips 26 are secured and which are supported in any suitable manner at the free ends of the supports 22. In the three pole contactor illustrated there are three sets of fixed and movable contacts, andin FIG. 3 these contacts are shown in their normal open contact position wherein the circuits between the terminals 19 and 23 are interrupted. The movable contacts 26 are normally urged away from the associated fixed contacts 20 by the biasyof the resilient leaf springs 25.

In order to effect movement of the movable contacts 26 relative to the fixed contacts 20 the contactor includes a magnetic system having two magnetic sections arranged for relative movement. The movable magnetic section is operatively connected to the movable contacts and in accord with the present invention, the movable magnetic section exhibits av greater mass than the fixed magnetic section. In the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated the fixed magnetic section comprises a magnetic armature 28 in the form of a flat plate and the movable magnetic section comprises an elect-romagnet 29 including a generally U-shaped laminated magnetic core 31 and a coil 32 mounted on one leg of the core. The armature 28 may be fixed to the housing in any suitable manner and as shown in FIG. 3, the armature is secured within a recess .formed in a transverse shelf 34 extending between the side walls of the housing within the cavity 13. The armature 28 is secured to the shelf 34 such as by a screw 35 extending through aligned openings in the shelf and armature, and resides in a vertical plane as viewed in FIG. 3-which is generally parallel to the leaf springs 25. The exposed face of the armature 28 confronts the end faces of the legs 37 and 38 of the core 31. The upper leg 37 of the core as viewed in FIG. 3 is normally spaced from the anmature 28 when the coil 32 is deenergized to establish the open contact position shown, and as will presently appear, when the coil 32 is energized, the leg 37 of the core is attracted into engagement with the armature to effect closure of the contacts.

The electroma-gnet 2? may. be mounted for movement relative to the armature 28 in any suitable manner. Preferably the electromagnet is mounted for pivotal movement and in the illustrated embodiment the mounting means includes a bracket 40 having spaced arms 41 and 43 each at a separate end thereof which are secured to the armature 28 adjacent the lower end thereof as by welding. The bracket 40 further includes a base 44 extending generally perpendicular to the arms 41 and 43 beneath the :core 31 as viewed in FIG. 3. The bracket 40 also includes a plurality of projections 45, 47 and 49 extending from the base 44 as best shown in. FIG. 5. A slot 50 is formed in the bracket 4% and receives the end 52 of a plate 53 attached to the lower face of the core 31 as viewed in FIG. 4. With the described arrangement the core 31 is mounted for pivotal movement relative to the armature 28 about an axis which extends general-ly parallel to the plane of the armature and which is defined by the lower wall of the slot 50.

energized.

In order to bias the electromagnet away from the armature 28 to establish the open contact position when the coil 32 is deencrgized, suitable biasing means are provided which in the illustrated embodiment comprises a pair of coil springs 55 and 55 located at opposite sides of the core. As best shown in FIG. 5, the spring 55 has its ends connected respectively to the projection 46 on the bracket 40 and to an upturned end section 57 of the plate 53. In like manner, the spring 56 has its ends connected respectively to the projection 49 of the bracket 40= and to a second upturned end section (not shown) of the plate 53.

In order to actuate the movable contacts in response to movement of the electromagnet a contact actuator 58 is provided having the configuration best shown in FIG. 5. Theactuator 58 is formed of a suitable insulating material and is operatively connected to a bracket 59 carried by the core 31. The actuator 58 includes a leading edge 61 against which the free ends 62 of the leaf springs 25 are biased when in the open contact position as shown in FIG. 3. In accord with one aspect of the invention a readily releasable connection is provided between the actuator 58 and the bracket 59 to facilitate assembly and disassembly of these parts. In the preferred form of the invention the releasable connection is provided by means of int-erfitting disconnected parts of the actuator 58 and bracket 59 comprising in the illustrated embodiment a pair of slots 64 formed in the actuator 58 for receiving projections 65 extending from the bracket 59. With the described connection pivotal movement of the electromagnet 29 effects movement of the actuator 58 to cause deflection of the leaf springs 25. I

In accord with a further aspect of the invention the actuator 58 is releasably mounted for reciprocating movement by the housing 11. In the illustrated embodiment the actuator 58 is mounted for reciprocating movement by means of opposed channels 67 which are formed by spaced elongated project-ions on the inner surfaces of opposed side walis of the housing and which receive the opp-osite edges 68 of the actuator as best shown in FIG. 2. The actuator is readily installed and removed relative to the channels 67 simply by inserting and withdrawing the actuator into and out of the channels. As shown in FIG. 3, the actuator 58 resides in a plane which is generally perpendicular to the plane defined by the armature 28.

In further accord with the invention means are provided to supplement the contact opening forces afiorded by the bias of the leaf springs 25 when the coil 32 is de- In the illustrated embodiment of the inventron such means constitutes connections between the leaf springs 25 and the actuator 58 which are effective in response to a contact opening movement of the actuator 58 to foreceably withdraw the movable contacts 26 away from the fixed contacts 20. Such connections are preferably provided by levers 70 constituting integral parts of the leaf spring 25 and bent at right angles thereto with the three levers 7t projecting into three recesses 71 formed in the actuator '78;

The invention also provides a convenient and effective adjustment for adjusting the pressure between the fixed and movable contacts. In the embodiment illustrated this is accomplished by mounting the bracket 5 for adjustable pivotal movement relative to the core 31. To this end the bracket 59 includes a rear section 73 which is adjacent the rear surface of the core and which terminates at its lower end as viewed in FIG. 4 in a pair of inwardly bent spaced wings 74 which extend along opposing sides of the core and which contain aligned holes for receiving a shaft 76 which also extends through openings in the end sections 57 of the plate 53 and through holes formed in the laminations of the core. The bracket.

59 is thus mounted for pivotal movement about the axis of the shaft 76 relative to the core. The bracket 59 is biased in a counterclockwise direction about the axis of the shaft 76 and for this purpose the bracket includes,

a lower section 77 extending beneath the core as viewed in FIG. 4 and engaged by a bias spring 79 constituting a portion struck out from the plate 53. In order to vary the angular position of the bracket 59 about the shaft 76 to thereby vary the closed contact position of the actuator 58 and the force exerted thereby on the free ends of leaf springs 25, a screw 80 is threaded through the rear section 73 of the bracket 59 with its head engaging the rear face of the core. Rotation of the screw 80 is effective to pivot the bracket 59 about the shaft 76 to thus adjust the pressurebetween the fixed and movable contacts. Since such adjustment operates to vary the horizontal spacing between the free ends of the springs 25 and the levers 70 as viewed in FIG. 4, the horizontal dimensions of the recesses 71 are made greater than such corresponding dimensions of the levers 70.

In order to arrest clockwise movement of the electromagnet 59 as a result of deenergization of the coil 32, the bracket 59 is provided with a depending section 82 in the plane of the rear section 73 which is adapted to engage an insulating ledge 83 which extends from the shelf 34 toward the rear of the housing 11. As shown in FIG. 2, the ledge 83 is spaced from the side walls of the housing 11.

The coil is connected to a suitable voltage source by means of electroconductive terminal plates 85 secured to the housing and projecting through an opening 86 formed in the bottom wall 88 of the housing 11. The plates 85 contain holes 87 permitting connection of source conductors thereto. The plates 85 overlie and engage connectors 89 to which the terminals 91 of the coil 32 are connected. The terminals 91 extend through the spaces between the ledge 83 and theside walls of the housing. The terminal plates, 85 and the'associated connectors 89 are secured to the housing as by screws 92.

Operation of the improved contactor will now be described. When the coil 32 is deenergized, the parts of the contactor assume the positions shown in FIG. 3 wherein the electromagnet is biased to its extreme clockwise position by the springs 55 and 56 and the fixed and movable contacts are in open position. In order to close the contacts to establish circuits between the terminals 19 and 23, it is necessary to energize the coil 32 which results in establishment of a magnetic field in the core 31 and in the armature 28. This results in attraction between the core and armature thus causing the core to pivot in a counterclockwise direction against the bias of the springs 55 and 56 from its position shown in FIG. 3 to the position shown in FIG. 4 wherein the leg 37 of the core engages the armature. Such movement of the core results in corresponding movement of the bracket 59 to effect sliding movement of the actuator 58 toward the left as viewed in FIG. 3 to deflect the leaf springs 25 toward the left and move the movable contacts 26 into engagement with the fixed contacts 20. Movement of the actuator 58 is sufiicient to deflect the free ends 62 of the springs 25 as shown in FIG. 4 so that considerable contact engaging pressure is obtained. The large mass of the electromagnet 29 minimizes the contact bounce time due to its relatively slow speed of movement in the contact closing direction which reduces impact between the fixed and movable contacts.

In order to open the contacts the coil 32 is deenergized. This normally results in clockwise movement of the electromagnet from its position shown in FIG. 4 back to the normal position shown in FIG. 3 by the biasing force of the springs 55 and 56. This results in displacement of the actuator 58 toward the right in FIG. 4 and permits similar movement of the springs 25 under action of their bias force to open the contacts. However, if one or more of the contacts have become welded together, the bias force of the springs 25 may not be suificient to break the weld. The connection between the leaf springs and the actuator afforded by the levers 70 provides an addi tional contact opening force resulting from the actuator striking and pulling the levers 70 during its contact opening movement and thus forceably opening the contacts to break any weld which may have been formed therebetween.

Although the invention has been described with reference to certain specific embodiments thereof, numerous modifications are possible and it is intended to cover all modifications falling within the spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is: V

-1. A magnetic contactor comprising in combination, an insulating housing, a magnetic armature fixed to the housing, an electromagnet including a magnetic core and a coil on the core, means mounting said electromagnet fortmovement relative to said armature, means biasing said electromagnet away from said armature, said electromagnet being moved toward said armature in response to energization of said coil, fixed contact means supported by said housing, movable contact means, resilient means supporting said movable contact means formovement relative to said fixed contact means, said resilient means normally biasing said movable contact means out of engagement with said fixed contact means and being deflectible to move said movable contact means into engagement with said fixed contact means, a contact actuator operatively connected to said electromagnet for effecting movement of said movable contactmeans, and means on said housing mounting said actuator for movement in response to movement of said electromagnet to deflect said resilient means and move said movable contact means relative to said fixed contact means, said armature andsaid actuator comprising flat plates lying in planes generally perpendicular to each other, said movable contact means being movable in directions generally parallel to the plane of said actuator.

2. A magnetic contactor comprising in combination, an insulating housing, a magnetic armature fixed to the housin an electromagnet including a magnetic core and a coil on the core, means mounting said electromagnet for movement relative to said armature, means biasing said electromagnet away from said armature, said electromagnet being moved toward said armature in response to energization of said coil, fixed contact means supported by said housing, movable contact means, resilient means supporting said movable contact means for movement relative to said -fixed contact means, said resilient means normally biasing said movable contact means out of engagement with said fixed contact means and being deflectible to move said movable contact means into engagement with said fixed contact means, a contact actuator operatively connected to said electromagnet for effecting movement of said movable contact means, and means on said housing mounting said actuator for movement in response to movement of said electromagnet to deflect said resilient means and move said movable contact means relative to said fixed contact means, said actuator comprising a flat plate having spaced generally parallel side edges, said means on said housing mounting comprising opposed generally parallel channels receiving the edges of said actuator.

3. A magnetic contactor comprising in combination, an insulating housing, a magnetic armature fixed to the housing, an electromagnet including a magnetic core and a coil on the core, means mounting said electromagnet for movement relative to said armature, means biasing said electromagnet away from said armature, said electromagnet being moved toward said armature in response to energization of said coil, fixed contact means supported by said housing, movable contact means, leaf spring means supporting said movable contact means for movement relative to said fixed contact means, said leaf spring means normally biasing said movable contact means out of engagement with said fixed contact means and being deflectible to move said movable contact means into engagement with said fixed contact means, a contact actuator operatively connected to said electromagnet for effecting movement of said movable contact means, said actuator having a surface against which said leaf spring means is biased when the movable contact means is out of engagement with said fixed contact means, means on said housing mounting said actuator for movement in response to movement of said electromagnet to cause said surface to deflect said leaf spring means and move said movable contact means relative to said fixed contact means, and means providing a relatively rigid connection between said leaf spring means and said actuator effective to forcibly move said movable contact means out of engagement with said fixed contact means.

4. A contactor as defined in claim 3 wherein said armature and said actuator are in the form of flat plates lying in planes generally perpendicular to each other, said movable contact means being movable in directions generally parallel to the plane of the actuator.

5. A contactor as defined in claim 3 wherein the actuator has a pair of opposed generally parallel side edges, said means on said housing mounting said actuator comprising opposed generally parallel channels receiving the edges of the actuator plate.

6. A contactor as defined in claim 3 wherein said actuator includes aperture means, said last-named means comprising lever means integrally connected to said leaf spring means and freely projecting into said aperture means. I

7. A magnetic contactor comprising in combination, an insulating housing, a magnetic armature plate fixed t-othe housing, an electromagnet including a magnetic core and a coil on the core, means mounting said electromagnet for pivotal movement relative to said armature plate, means biasing said electromagnet away from said armature plate, said electromagnet being pivoted toward said armature plate in response to energization of said coil, fixed contact means supported .by said housing, movable contact means, leaf spring means supporting said movable contact means for movement relative to said fixed contact means, said leaf spring means normally biasing said movable contact means out of engagement with said fixed contact means and being deflectible to move said movable contact means into engagement with said' fixed contact means, a contact actuator plate for effecting movement of said movable contact means, said actuator plate and said electromagnet having interfitting disconnected parts providing a releasable connection therebetween, said actuator plate having a leading edge against which said leaf spring means is biased when said movable contact means is out of engagement with said fixed contact means, said actuator plate having recess means and having a pair of opposed generally parallel side edges, said armature plate and said actuator plate lying in planes generally perpendicular to each other, said movable contact means being movable in directions generally parallel to the plane of said actuator plate, means on said housing providing a pair of opposed generally parallel channels receiving the side edges of said actuator plate, said channels mounting said actuator plate for reciprocating sliding movement in response to pivotal movement of said electromagnet to deflect said leaf spring means and move said movable contact means relative to said fixed contact means, and projection means integral with 'said leaf spring means extending freely into said recess means of said actuator plate to forcibly move said movable contact means out of engagement with said fixed contact means.

a 8. A magnetic contactor comprising in combination, an insulating housing, a magnetic armature fixed to the housing, an electromagnet including a magnetic core and a coil on the core, means mounting said electromagnet for pivotal movement relativeto said armature, means biasing said electromagnet away from said armature, said electromagnet being pivotedtoward said armature in response to energization of said coil, fixed contact means supported by said housing, movable contact means, resilient means supporting said movable contact means for movement relative to said fixed contact means, said resilient means normally biasing said movable contact means out of engagement with said fixed contact means and being deflectible to move said movable contact means into engagement with said fixed contact means, a contact actuator plate for effecting movement of said movable contact means, said actuator plate having slot means therein, a bracket mounted on said core having projection means releasably extending int-o the slot means of said actuator plate, and means on said housing mounting said actuator plate in the path of said resilient means for reciprocating sliding movement in response to pivotal movement of said electromagnet and said bracket to deflect said resilient means and move said movable contact means relative to said fixed contact means.

9. A magnetic contactor comprising in combination, an insulating housing, a magnetic armature plate fixed to the housing, an electromagnet including a magnetic core and a coil on the core, means mounting said electromagnet for pivotal movement relative to said armature plate about a first axis parallel to said armature plate, means biasing the electromagnet away from said armature plate, said electromagnet being pivoted toward said armature plate in response to energization of said coil, fixed contact means supported by said housing, movable contact means, leaf spring means extending generally parallel to said armature plate and supporting said movable contact means for movement relative to said fixed contact means, said leaf spring means normally biasing said movable contact means out of engagement with said fixed contact means and being deflectible to move said movable contact means into engagement with said fixed contact means, a contact actuator plate for effecting movement of said movable contact means and having a leading edge against which said leaf spring means is biased when said movable contact means is out of engagement with said fixed contact means, said actuator plate having slot means, a bracket mounted on the core and having projection means releasably extending into said slot means, and means on said housing mounting said actuator plate for reciprocating sliding movement generally perpendicular to said armature plate and to said first axis in response to pivotal movement of said electromagnet to cause said leading edge to deflect said leaf spring means and move said movable contact means relative to the fixed contact means.

' 10. A magnetic contactor comprising in combination, an insulating housing, a magnetic armature plate fixed to the housing, an electromagnet including a magnetic core and a coil on the core, means mounting said electromagnet for pivotal movement relative to said armature plate about a first axis parallel to said armature plate, means biasing the electromagnet away from said armature plate, said electromagnet being pivoted toward said armature plate in response to energization of said coil, fixed contact means supported by said housing, movable contact means, leaf spring means extending generally parallel to said armature plate and supporting said movable contact means for movement relative to said fixed contact means, said leaf spring means normally biasing said movable contact means out of engagement with said fixed contact means and being deflectible to move said movable contact means into engagement with said fixed contact means, a contact actuator plate for effecting movement of said movable contact means and having a leading edge against which said leaf spring means is biased when said movable contact means is out of engagement with said fixed contact means, said actuator plate having slot means, a bracket mounted on the core and having projection means releasably extending into said slot means, means on said housing mounting said actuator plate for reciprocating sliding movement generally perpendicular to said armature plate and to said first axis in response to pivotal movement of said electromagnet to cause said leading edge to deflect said leaf spring means and move said movable contact means relative to the fixed contact means, means mounting said bracket for pivotal movement relative to said core about a second axis parallel to the first axis, and adjustable means for adjusting the angular position of said bracket about said second axis.

11. A magnetic contactor comprising in combination, an insulating housing, a magnetic armature plate fixed to the housing, an electromagnet including a magnetic core and a coil on the core, means mounting said electromagnet for pivotal movement relative to said armature plate about a first axis parallel to said armature plate, means biasing the electromagnet away from said armature plate, said electromagnet being pivoted toward said armature plate in response to energization of said coil, fixed contact means supported by said housing, movable contact means, leaf spring means extending generally parallel to said armature plate and supporting said movable contact means for movement relative to said fixed contact means, said leaf spring means normally biasing said movable contact means out of engagement with said fixed contact means and being defiectible to move said movable contact means into engagement with said fixed contact means, a contact actuator plate for effecting movement of said movable contact means and having a leading edge against which said leaf spring means is biased when said movable contact means is out of engagement with said fixed contact means, said actuator plate having slot means, a bracket mounted on the core and having projection means releasably extending into said slot means, means on said housing mounting said actuator plate for reciprocating sliding movement generally perpendicular to said armature plate and to said first axis in response to pivotal movement of said electromagnet to cause said leading edge to deflect said leaf spring means and move said movable contact means relative to the fixed contact means, said actuator plate having recess means between its leading edge and said slot means, and lever means integral with said leaf spring means and freely projecting into said recess means to forcibly move said movable contact means out of engagement with said fixed contact means.

12. A contactor as defined in claim 11 wherein said actuator plate includes a pair of generally parallel side edges, said means on said housing mounting said actuator 1% plate comprising a pair of spaced parallel channels receiving said side edges.

13. A magnetic contactor comprising in combination, an insulating housing, a magnetic armature, an electromagnet including a magnetic core and a coil on the core, means mounting one of said armature and electromagnet for pivotal movement relative to the other of said armature and electromagnet about a first axis, fixed contact means supported by said housing, movable contact means, leaf spring means supporting said movable contact means for movement relative to said fixed contact means, said leaf spring means normally biasing said movable contact means out of engagement with said fixed contact means and being defiectible to move said movable contact means into engagement with said fixed contact means, a contact actuator for effecting movement of said movable contact means, said contact actuator having a leading edge against which said leaf spring means is biased when the movable contact means is out of engagement with said fixed contact means, said actuator having slot means therein, bracket means mounted on said one of said armature and said electromagnet extending into said slot means, means mounting said actuator for reciprocating movement in directions generally perpendicular to said first axis in response to movement of said one of said armature and said electromagnet to cause said leading edge to deflect said leaf spring means and move said movable contact means relative to said fixed contact means, said actuator having recess means therein, means on said leaf spring means freely projecting into said recess means to forcibly move said movable contact means out of engagement with said fixed contact means, means mounting said bracket for pivotal movement relative to both said armature and said electromagnet about a second axis generally parallel to said first axis, and adjustable means for adjusting the angular position of said bracket means about said second axis.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 706,759 8/1902 Kennedy 200 2,861,147 11/1958 Couveld, et al. 200-404 3,242,285 3/1966 Obszarny, et al 200104 BERNARD A. GILHEANY, Primary Examiner. R. N. ENVALL, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A MAGNETIC CONTACTOR COMPRISING IN COMBINATION, AN INSULATING HOUSING, A MAGNETIC ARMATURE FIXED TO THE HOUSING, AN ELECTROMAGNET INCLUDING A MAGNETIC CORE AND A COIL ON THE CORE, MEANS MOUNTING SAID ELECTROMAGNET FOR MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO SAID ARMATURE, MEANS BIASING SAID ELECTROMAGNET AWAY FROM SAID ARMATURE, SAID ELECTROMAGNET BEING MOVED TOWARD SAID ARMATURE IN RESPONSE TO ENERGIZATION OF SAID COIL, FIXED CONTACT MEANS SUPPORTED BY SAID HOUSING, MOVABLE CONTACT MEANS, RESILIENT MEANS SUPPORTING SAID MOVABLE CONTACT MEANS FOR MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO SAID FIXED CONTACT MEANS, SAID RESILIENT MEANS NORMALLY BIASING SAID MOVABLE CONTACT MEANS OUT OF ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID FIXED CONTACT MEANS AND BEING DEFLECTIBLE TO MOVE SAID MOVABLE CONTACT MEANS INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID FIXED CONTACT MEANS, A CONTACT ACTUATOR OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID ELECTROMAGNET FOR EFFECTING MOVEMENT OF SAID MOVABLE CONTACT MEANS, AND MEANS ON SAID HOUSING MOUNTING SAID ACTUATOR FOR MOVEMENT IN RESPONSE TO MOVEMENT OF SAID ELECTROMAGNET TO DEFLECT SAID RESILIENT MEANS AND MOVE SAID MOVABLE CONTACT MEANS RELATIVE TO SAID FIXED CONTACT MEANS, SAID ARMATURE AND SAID ACTUATOR COMPRISING FLAT PLATES LYING IN PLANES GENERALLY PERPENDICULAR TO EACH OTHER, SAID MOVABLE CONTACT MEANS BEING MOVABLE IN DIRECTIONS GENERALLY PARALLEL TO THE PLANE OF SAID ACTUATOR. 